Officially the most powerful Bentley to ever see the light of day, the Batur W12 Grand Tourer has set off on its maiden voyage across Europe. Over the course of the next year and change (58 weeks), the royal purple Bentley Batur will be put to the test—or, more specifically, 120 separate tests—to ensure it meets Bentley's highest standards.
Will it succeed? After spending 2 years developing the vehicle's powertrain, Bentley has no doubt in Batur's ability to be the ultimate GT.
"At the start of the project it was clear that this car had to be the ultimate GT and so every element from the exterior design, engine power and hand-crafted interior has been created without compromise." - Paul Williams, Chief Technical Officer for Mulliner
From there, Batur undergoes 7 more weeks of exams to establish its capability of handling the most abusive surfaces, including closed tracks, twists, mixed road conditions, and more. That data is tracked and analyzed to identify any issues—most notably issues related to its Speed-tuned air suspension, four-wheel steering, and electronic limited-slip rear differential—that would otherwise prevent the Batur from taking its rightful place atop the "best luxury coupe" list.
After yet another trip—this time, a longer 4600-mile trek through very inhospitable locales—the Batur is ready for the show and tell. That final road test pushes Batur into unchartered territory in which the car endures 600 hours of blistering solar loading to guarantee Bentley's new sustainable materials, such as Additive Manufactured Gold and high-performance composites, can withstand extreme UV punishment. (Four weeks of testing is equivalent to five years in the Arizona desert!)
"Batur is a sleek hard-top coupé, characterised by a new, minimalist design language that will define the Bentley style in the forthcoming electric car era."
In all, just 18 specially crafted Batur models will be delivered to lucky Bentley owners starting in mid-2023. Each of these models will be constructed out of more than 800 unique Batur-exclusive Bentley components, making this grand tourer as rare as a vaquita, the most critically endangered porpoise in the world. (Coincidentally, there are estimated to be just 18 vaquita left, as well.)
Want one? Unfortunately, all 18 Batur models have already been claimed by Bentley customers. However, you can work with our South Florida Bentley dealership to build and design your own luxury vehicle. Contact Bentley Miami at (786) 577-5218 to speak with a member of our bespoke sales staff and customer service representatives to get the Mulliner coachbuilding ball rolling.
